Summary: Abby backs him up – though in truth he knows he's more like her sidekick - only Connor turns around to find she's not there this time.Spoilers: Up to 2x06

A/N: Betaread by fififolle. Started off inspired by the primeval100 Malfunction challenge but got a bit big to express in just 100 words.

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He knows he'll always be fine. In the back of his mind he thinks: Abby's here. As much as he'd like to be an action hero she's like +5 in those areas already. Ignoring macho-ness about how it's usually the other way round, he can't help but feel this, Abby being by him; just around the corner; within screaming for help distance, makes him feel safe. She's the responsible one, isn't she, practical, knows how to handle herself when it gets physical...and that kind of thought stops there abruptly. Of course it's good to have anyone about to save him but he prefers Abby, she's his lucky charm – the number of times he should've died and didn't because she was there...well, he has to wonder if fate is on his side and waiting for him to do something there.

So when he backs up, glances and doesn't see her he starts to get scared. But he keeps it steady, calls for help in a dignified fashion. Only she's not there, she doesn't reply – that's when he panics. Because she has the gun - they never let him have guns now – and he's lost her. There's a stomping sound, something heading straight for him.

He'll never get to say goodbye. It's so close and he can't see any other exit from the hall in the dark. Must've been the number one bad idea to come in here, if only he could critique his own actions like he was in a movie.

The rumbling comes from outside the end of the hall. The barest of shadows falls between the mostly closed double doors, the light reduced down to a sliver revealing leathery skin. He hears the huff of it's ragged breath against the wood and closes his eyes, standing still and hoping it'll either pass him by or make it quick.

There's a thump, the floor boards creak and then the doors burst open. The sudden light blinds him as his curiousity overwhelms him and makes him look. When he regains the ability to see, Abby is grinning at him like a giddy school girl next to what turns out to be a fairly harmless ....

“Look what I found,” she says, pointing and then patting the side of a small – had to be a young one – Mastodon. What was it with her and elephants? Or elephant like creatures at least. Oh yeah, the dung beetle study, ick - but at least she knew how to handle this because being on the pointy end of four tusks was pretty unappealing.

Of course Abby makes his heart race, but he hadn't expected this exactly. Still, she's looking concerned now the doors are open and the light shows his presumably pale face – he bends over, hands resting against his knees to brace himself as he tries to get his breathing under control. The thought does occur, a bit evilly, that he might be able to sneak a hug out of this but it seems only fair if he can get one considering she left him alone. He should've known she'd be back though, normality reset at the idea that Abby's never far away at times like this and sometimes he wishes they did this more, just because of that, lame as it sounds. It's a handy excuse to stick close to her and a pretence of life being a little more like he wishes it always was.

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Comments

Awwww, sweet Connor/Abby. I like Connor's thoughts in this, the fact that he knows he's not exactly the action hero of the team, and that he feels safe with Abby. And then he looks round and she's not there and he panics. Awwww. *hugs Connor*

Yeah, he totally wants to be an action hero but evidence proves he's not quite up to par compared to everyone else, including Abby, and they do tend to stick in a pair a lot so I think he must realise she's more capable than him - if only by the fact no one questions her having a gun, and she's definitely good with animals.

Yes, it's very thoughtful, though I don't think that's a prevailing view with fic readers.

I must say the level of feedback in Primeval fandom seems quite high even for a smallish one, which is very nice and greatly encouraging. I think feedback for my Primeval fics is probably higher than for most of my other fics, even those for much much larger fandoms.

Yes, I think you're right. We're a small fandom, but that's maybe what makes it so much of a "community" as perhaps we all, consciously or subconsciously want to encourage people to write more, and feedback does help, 'cos we're all only human, after all. I was influenced, ages ago by someone on my f-list, who isn't in this fandom, remarking in her LJ how much feedback can mean to authors, and pointing out that actually, it only takes a minute to leave a note, even if it's only a smiley face, or a simple "thanks", and that really helped me overcome the embarrassment I felt initially at coming out of the woodwork and saying anything at all, which was a feeling that I found hard to shake off when I first joined LJ. And I think a lot of people do feel embarrassed in some way by commenting, I know I used to.

I find the same level of feedback exists in the Numb3rs fandom as well. Again maybe because it's relatively small, which makes it easier to get to know people.

Numb3rs fandom is small? I didn't realise that, I'd thought it was a fairly successful show and hence would have a bigger community for it.

I got used to small fandomness with "The 4400" but even in their there wasn't much feedback apart from friends I knew who were in it, so I guess it really does just depend on if people group together and get the true community feeling to drive the encouragement and growth creativity. It's really nice to see. :D